Improvement in shoe-brushes



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW MOELRATH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT lN SHOE-BRUSHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 160,450, dated March 2, 1875 application filed April 6,1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANDREW MGELRATH, of New York city, county and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in a Combined Blacking Brush and (Jase, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to a blackiiig-brush constructed with a hollow back, which is provided with circular cavities connected by a groove to receive the implements required in the operation of polishing boots or shoes as hereinafter described.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of the box with the lid open. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the brush on line 00 w of Fig. 1.

A is the bristle portion of the brush, and B the hollow case or back thereof, to which latter the lid or cover 0 is secured by hinges d d, and, when closed, the locking-catch e and spring f. The back B is provided at its respective ends with deep circular cavities 0 0, to receive and hold the wetting-brush I and blacking box J, the handle of the former restin g in the groove 8, joining said cavities. The shoe-horn G is placed beneath the box J and its handle, which has a cleaningbrush, h, also projects into the same groove. A groove is also formed on each side of said central groove 8, one to receive the buttonhook K, the other the cleaning-tool L.

I likewise apply a plush hat-brush, N, to the outer side, and a mirror, M, to the inner side, of the lid G, as shown, these being articles frequently required for use in conjunction with boot-polishing implements.

By the construction described I provide a compact packing-case for the implements used in cleaning, blacking, and polishing boots and shoes, without lessening the adaptability of the brush proper for convenient and efficient use. On the contrary, the increased vertical thickness of the back of the brush is directly advantageous, since it may beheld more firmly in the hand than when made of the usual thickness. Also,byarrangingtheimplements in the brush-case, as specified, they are always at hand when wanted for use in connection with the brush, and are not liable to be mislaid or lost.

I do not claim, broadly, a brush provided with a recessed back; but

I claim- The boot-polishing brush having a hollow back rovided with the cavities 0 and 0 and connecting-groovesto F6C6l"8 the auxiliary implements specified, and the hinged cover 0 for confining them in their appropriate places, as shown and described.

ANDREW MGELRATH.

\Vitnesses:

ANTON (J. CRONDAL, FRANKLIN BARR-1T1. 

